President Joe Biden’s administration has unveiled a series of new measures aimed at curbing illegal immigration at the U.S.-Mexico border. These actions come in response to persistent issues at the border and the expiration of Title 42, a pandemic-era policy that allowed for the rapid expulsion of migrants.
The new plan includes significant asylum restrictions under a 1952 law, which permits the president to suspend the entry of foreigners if their presence is deemed detrimental to the U.S.
JUST IN: New Yorkers get furious and clash with migrants blocking traffic in Times Square in protest of Biden's border executive order.
Earlier, the NYPD was quick to arrest Trump supporters for unveiling a 'Law and Order' flag, but so far, not a single migrant has been… pic.twitter.com/N1qSstHPKM
— I Meme Therefore I Am 🇺🇸 (@ImMeme0) June 7, 2024
This regulation was previously utilized by the Trump administration and has drawn sharp criticism from human rights groups and some Democratic lawmakers. They argue that such measures could be seen as a direct assault on the right to seek asylum, likening it to the controversial "metering" policies used under Trump.
Under the new rules, the Biden administration will deny asylum claims to migrants who cross the border illegally, unless they meet certain exceptions. To encourage legal entry, the administration has expanded the use of the CBP One app, allowing asylum seekers to schedule appointments at legal ports of entry. Additionally, the U.S. has struck agreements with Mexico to accept the return of migrants from countries like Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela if they attempt to cross illegally.
How did illegals get protest banners printed in 2 days and who the hell organized and paid for this protest? I am livid!
— Alli (@AlliBabaras) June 7, 2024
Critics from the Republican Party have labeled these measures as insufficient and accuse the administration of failing to enforce existing immigration laws effectively. They argue that the new plan is an election-year strategy rather than a genuine solution to the border crisis.
Despite these criticisms, early data suggests some success in reducing illegal crossings. For instance, illegal entries by Venezuelans, Cubans, Haitians, and Nicaraguans dropped significantly after the implementation of new policies that allow up to 30,000 migrants from these countries to enter legally each month, provided they have a U.S. sponsor.
However, the Biden administration faces legal challenges from both sides of the political spectrum. Human rights advocates plan to contest the new restrictions in court, claiming they violate U.S. asylum laws. On the other hand, Republican-led states are also preparing to challenge the administration's approach, arguing it does not go far enough to secure the border.
In summary, Biden's border plan represents a complex and contentious effort to manage immigration more effectively, balancing between enforcing legal entry and managing humanitarian needs. The ongoing debate underscores the difficulty of achieving a bipartisan consensus on immigration reform in the U.S.
